The Tangled Web We Weave
He never listened. Oh, he heard, but was incapable of listening to her.
In the beginning she loved his intelligence and sweetness. There was something deliciously romantic about his thoughtful gestures. He cast a spell on her, capturing her in his jeweled web. Making sure she was good and stuck in place. She could neither come nor go. The quirkiness of his personality once refreshing and keeping her always on her toes, now suffocating. Trapped by his weirdness that quickly lost its appeal. Squeezing the breath from her lungs and energy from her body.
What she mistakenly took for romance was actually a predator luring his prey. Now his web constricts and chokes her until she is no more. To her, death is quite romantic. She speaks no more but he didn’t listen to her anyway. If he couldn’t have her, then nobody would.
Copyright © 2022 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing All Rights Reserved Bjorn is hosting Prosery Monday at D’Verse. He has prompted us with a line from Bob Dylan’s Desolation Row to be included in our piece of flash fiction to be no more than 144 words. ”To her, death is quite romantic”
As Angela Carter said in the Company of Wolves – (badly paraphrasing here) not all wolves have fur on the outside.
Yes! They come in sheep’s clothing sometimes ☺️💕.
This is incredibly hard-hitting and evocative! The line by Dylan fits in here so seamlessly. Alas, this happens quite often… a dangerous obsession that leads to no good.. sigh..
Scary isn’t it Sanaa. So easy to fall into someone’s web. 😧
Alas.. when you realizes you are trapped it is often too late.
Unfortunately, this is quite the reality in many relationships
Yes, why do some have to have that power over another? So sad 😢
It’s sadistic
The situation you describe is sadly familiar to so many women – the outcome isn’t unusual, something I’ve read and heard about many times. You portrayed the toxic relationship and its outcome so well, Christine, especially in ‘The quirkiness of his personality once refreshing and keeping her always on her toes, now suffocating’.
Thanks Kim. It is a sad situation for many. 😢
Well done Christine! Sadly, this happens all too often!
Thank you Dwight. Indeed those power plays are more common than we know.
I agree!
Christine, you expertly described the dynamic. How the first sentence and the next to the last line pair up chills and saddens me more than words can say.
Thank you Lisa. Im happy you liked it. I went back to read my post again and was horrified to see the typo and the fact I had left out half a sentence! 😧. Whenever I use an ipad I mess up!
Your message got through regardless. You’re welcome!